Junior Udeme Pius (born 20 December 1995) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Belgian club Antwerp as a central defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Junior Udeme Pius[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 26)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Eman, Nigeria[1] | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Antwerp | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2014 | Porto | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2015 | Porto | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | → Aves (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Cesarense | 23 | (1) |
| 2016–2017 | Sanjoanense | 31 | (4) |
| 2017–2018 | Tondela | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Paços Ferreira | 29 | (3) |
| 2019– | Antwerp | 6 | (2) |
| 2021–2022 | → Sint-Truiden (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:15, 15 August 2022 (UTC) | |||
Born in Eman, Akwa Ibom, Pius finished his development in Portugal with FC Porto.[2] On 1 September 2014, he was loaned to C.D. Aves to kickstart his senior career,[3] making his Segunda Liga debut on 5 October in a 0–0 away draw against C.D. Santa Clara where he was sent off for two late bookable offences.[4]
Released by Porto at the end of the season, Pius took his game to the Portuguese third division, representing in quick succession F.C. Cesarense and A.D. Sanjoanense. In the summer of 2017 he moved straight to the Primeira Liga, signing a three-year contract with C.D. Tondela.[5] He played his first game in the latter competition on 16 September, when he came on as a 31st-minute substitute in a 2–0 away loss to Sporting CP.[6]
Paços de Ferreira
Antwerp